Library Notes

The current issue (March) of American Libraries, the magazine of the American Library Association, contains an article about the 2017 Emerging Leaders.  Our own Jessica Bennett is a member of this class! Quoting from the article: “Initiated in 1997 as a one-year program under former ALA President Mary R. Somerville and revived in 2006 under former ALA President Leslie Burger, Emerging Leaders recognizes the best and brightest new leaders in our industry. It’s open to librarians under 35 years of…

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The work of designing and building a Grant Beach Neighborhood Library at the Fairbanks continues to move forward.  It is amazing how much work goes on in the background.  Some examples: Joshua is working out how to get the library information system up and running.  Sue M ran into a snag trying to get the HiSET testing in place.  It can be done here so she is looking into ways to make it happen. Raegan provided a list of items…

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In 1997 Special Collections and Archives opened as a department in Duane G. Meyer Library, and has continued to increase its diverse holdings. The current exhibit looks at a selection of materials collected over the last twenty years. The exhibit focuses on some of the major collecting areas of the Archives, such as the University and its history, the Labor Union Archives, rare books, and Ozarkiana, which includes materials related to the history of the Ozarks and the Southwest Missouri…

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We are pleased to announce that the MSU Testing Center, a program of the MSU Libraries, passed its ETS test day administration audit/observation for the SAT test administered on January 21 2017.  We are currently in full compliance with ETS testing requirements. ETS is one of the major developers and providers of standardized testing in the U.S. Congratulations to all the employees and student workers in the MSU Testing Center on this achievement and on the good and growing services you provide.

On Tuesday Dean Peters submitted to the Provost a plan, developed in consultation with the Budget Committee, faculty, staff, and other stakeholders, to permanently reduce by up to 5 percent, if necessary, the annual operating budget of the MSU Libraries. These plans are being developed in response to declining state support for public two-year and four-year higher education. All MSU cost centers have been asked to submit such plans. At this time, these are only plans. Once the actual amount, if…

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Please let eligible and worthy library student workers, as well as other MSU students, know that Student Scholarship Applications for next Academic Year are due by midnight on February 28th. The MSU Libraries manages a few of the many student scholarships available at MSU, supported in many instances by generous donors.

The newly formed Public Affairs Committee of the MSU Libraries held its first meeting last Thursday. Several guests participated, including Mary Ann and Stacey from the Public Affairs Support office. Jir Shin Boey is serving as the chair of this committee. Many good ideas were shared during the meeting, including the idea of offering some “human library” sessions soon. The Human Library Organization is a worldwide movement “designed to build a positive framework for conversations that can challenge stereotypes and…

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Last week the MSU Libraries received some excellent campus-wide publicity when a “front page, above the fold” article in The Standard about the new Virtual Reality (VR) service was published. This type of VR experience “is accessed through a headset and two hand controllers that, once donned, transport the user to a digital dimension….” This new service is proving to be quite popular, with many sessions being scheduled by students and faculty. Exploration of how VR could benefit and expand…

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After over 41 years of substantial and successful service to the MSU Libraries, the University, the region, the profession, and dark-chocolate lovers everywhere, Lynn Cline will retire at the end of February. Please join us for a retirement reception to honor and thank Lynn on Monday, February 27, 2017 from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. in Room 107 of Meyer Library.

Last week our own Jessica Bennett, a member of our Space Task Force, was part of a small group from MSU that was flown by Steelcase to Michigan for a whirlwind workshop about furniture and spaces for higher education. Their visit included a tour of the award-winning library at Grand Valley State University. As the MSU Meyer Library Renovation Project continues, the ideas and knowledge Jessica gained during this visit will be invaluable. The trip was funded by Steelcase.